"Yes, at noon."
"I am at the disposal of your highness," said Achanna, using the title by which kings were then addressed in Scotland and England.
Albany started, and the colour mounted to his usually pale temples as he said, "Sir, I desire that you will not address me thus."
"Why!" asked the earl with surprise as he paused in the doorway.
"Because I consider it premature, and as such unlucky."
"Your grace, perhaps, is right," replied the earl, gloomily, and somewhat contemptuously; "however, time will show."
CHAPTER XXXIV.
NOON—THE PLOT.
'Twas thus these cozening villains laid their scheme
Against his life, his youth, and comeliness:
Woe worth the end!—Old Play.
Three miles from the southern gate of Bommel, on the road which led to Ameldroyen, there stood a solitary auberge, or wayside tavern. It was named The Forester, from the circumstance that on a signboard it had a hideous representation of a hunter sounding a horn, and this passed for a likeness of Liderick du Bucq, the first forester of Flanders.
The signboard, moreover, informed the passers, in tolerably-spelt Flemish, that there was entertainment for man and horse, with good German beer within; while a green bush, which hung over the door in the more ancient fashion, announced that there also could be had the good wines of Alicant and Burgundy, with perhaps the strong waters of Anjou and Languedoc, i.e., brandy.